Suh-weet! Two weeks! I woke up the morning of Day 14 still wishing I could sleep in, but definitely having the energy I needed to get up and get going. I went to bed earlier than usual. I fully expected to wake this morning feeling so so sore after yesterday’s TaeKwonDo class… but I didn’t. I have a little tenderness in my back from all of those side and hook kicks, but that’s it.

Today, I returned to spinning after being away for about 8 months. I braced myself for burning pain, fatigue, gasping for breath, noodly legs…etc. When I told the instructor it had been 8 months since I’d been there, she told me to listen to my body (code for “modify whatever you need to so that you don’t overdo it your first day back”). I fully intended to take it easy. I went in with the goal of just getting used to the bike again. I wasn’t going to worry about hills or speed or whatever… just make it an hour on that bike. I got there about 10 minutes early so that I could get the bike I wanted, and have time to get it set up. I began pedaling about five minutes before class started. I played with the tension. Kept pedaling. “Hmm, this doesn’t feel like I’ve taken 8 months off.”

I promise you, I really did try to reign myself in, but I just couldn’t help it. I realized that I was actually trying to keep pace with the instructor, and was getting close! My breathing stayed very steady. No gasping. So I pushed harder. While others moaned about the burn, I thought, “I’m not burning.” I upped the tension, still no burn. I pushed myself, but I didn’t feel the discomfort that usually comes with doing so. By the half-way point, I realized that I had energy to spare, I didn’t need to hold back, so I decided to leave it all on the spinning room floor. It was tough, but I still felt no burn. I was sweating, but I still felt no burn. My breathing quickened, but… yep, no burn.

I did the entire class with a stupid grin on my face because I just could not force myself to look like I was about to die when I felt so amazing. I got more and more jazzed as the class went along. I wanted to shout, “Isn’t this awesome!!”, but I didn’t. I tried to reign in my enthusiasm, because almost everyone else looked so miserable, but that grin remained to the end. I had an overwhelming sense of gratitude coursing through my veins. I was keenly aware that I should thank God for the ability to participate in that workout today. Praise His Name!

*My “Fire Ban” photo was taken while on a camping trip with the family in the mountains during the fires we had here. We couldn’t build a fire, so I did a bit of reading and used the ban notices as a book mark… excellent book by the way 😉

Are you looking to make some changes in 2013? Check out The Journey for more information.

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What I read: Job 38-39

What I ate:

• Breakfast – Ten oranges juiced with electric citrus juicer
• Lunch – 10 Bananas blended with 8oz of water.
  
• Afternoon snack – 4 Medjool Dates
• Dinner – 1/2 large watermelon, 1 lb romaine lettuce, 1 cup grape tomatoes, 1 cup golden tomatoes, with fruity dressing (1 cup grapes, 2 cuties, parsley, cilantro blended together)
  

What I did: Cycling Class (65 min) – 13.74 miles

Here are the notes I made regarding my symptoms throughout Day 14:

• slowed digestion (gas, abdominal pain, bloating)
  
• headaches
  
• puffy hands, feet, and face
  
• sinus congestion – none
  
• dry/itchy eyes, skin, and scalp
  
• acne – clearing, almost gone
  
• aching muscles and muscle spasms
  
• foggy brain
• irritability
  
• mood swings – better
  
• blood sugar fluctuations
  
• fatigue – better
  
• unable to sleep well – slept well.
  
• unquenchable thirst  – better
  
• cravings – After today’s workout, why on earth would I crave junk food?!